MATCH REPORT: COUNTY 1 - 0 Brighouse Town

By Hatter-in-Macc

Given that my two previous reports for Cheadle End Punk - back in those lazy, hazy, crazy pre-season days of Summer - had carried news of County victories, I kept my fingers crossed for the continuation of a 100% personal record today. And it is probably just as well that I did!

The end-results were pleasing enough: a place in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round achieved; and an unprecedented September exit from the competition averted. But, make no mistake, this match lived up to its billing as a tricky tie against a bold (as brass-band) Brighouse outfit that is currently showing impressive form in the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League.

It was rather difficult to bring to mind higher-level Cup deeds by our favourites of bygone years, against the likes of Liverpool, QPR and Everton, as County took to the field in front of a sparse crowd, and a closed Pop Side. But we are where we are for good reason, and, for now, our chances of any kind of run in the competition lay with the Class of 2013/14:

Starting line-up: Ormson, Jacobs, Duxbury, Fagbola, Tunnicliffe, Charnock (Captain), Moses, Lofthouse, Turner, Jevons, Howard.

Subs: Jones, O'Halloran, Bateman, Verma (for Fagbola), Windsor (for Lofthouse).

Cheered on by a couple of coach-loads of their supporters, Brighouse made it clear from the off that they were going to give this a right good go. County, it has to be said, didn't help themselves with two worrying, 'after you, Claude' moments of hesitation involving Ormson and his defenders. Twice more, Tunnicliffe, following his successful return to central defence a week earlier in Stalybridge, saved his side's blushes with last-ditch tackles, but it has to be said that, had their strikers been just a tad sharper in front of goal, the visitors could very easily have been ahead by half-time. For the home team, there was possession a-plenty, and Turner's pace clearly unsettled Brighouse, but, with Dennis absent and Jevons playing deeper than usual, the young Myerscough graduate's forays all too often came to nothing. Fagbola, meanwhile, who had seemingly enjoyed his role as an attacking right back at Bower Fold, looked all at sea in the same position this time around, and was not to reappear after the break.

Half-time: County 0, Brighouse 0.

Verma's return, following his lay-off through injury, and to a midfield that today sorely missed the ineligible Gossett, was most welcome - helping as it did to give more balance to the side in the second half. Matters proceeded, just after the hour, to turn even further in County's favour, when the lively Windsor replaced Lofthouse, on his full debut, in an attempt to boost the effort up front. Within three minutes, a Windsor rocket-shot hit a Brighouse defender full in the face, and was cleared in something of a panic - but only as far as Jacobs, who unleashed an unstoppable long-range piledriver into the top corner. A wonderful strike, and worthy of winning a game at any level. But would it turn out thus...?

Four minutes of added time were announced - for the first time at EP this season, as it happens - and, at that point, Brighouse decided to go for broke, throwing the kitchen sink - and their 'keeper - at the home goal, and, in the process, putting County through the most agonising of closing stages, akin to those, earlier during September, at Vauxhall Motors. And none of us will wish reminding of how things ended there! Corner followed corner for the visiting side - the decision to award one of them, in particular, is up there with the most bizarre that I have ever seen given - and, in the dying seconds of the four-minutes-that-somehow-turned-into-six, Ormson almost gave the home faithful collective heart failure, when he looked to have had a David Seaman moment  and come out too far for a looping lob that, by back-tracking, he just managed to gather safely.

Full-time: County 1, Brighouse 0.

Into the hat for today, then - and with a few extra quid to boost the Club coffers, too. But, my goodness, it was a tense and close-run thing...

MATCH REPORT: COUNTY 1 - 1 Leamington

Kieran Charnock - gifted Leamington a goal after two minutes

By Chris Larkin

Saturday afternoon saw Leamington and County share the spoils, in a 1-1 draw with a glut of chances and even more time wasting.

The result could have been so different had County not shot themselves in the foot within two minutes but the draw does show that County are showing some of the old, to use a Jim Gannon phrase, 'bouncebackability' that made them so tough to beat in the old days.

It also, of course, kept Alan Lord's unbeaten record intact.

There was no room in the starting line-up for new boy Tunji Moses, who was confined to the bench. Phil Jevons kept his place after his two-goal display last week. And County lined up with Ormson, Jacobs, Fagbola, Charnock, O'Halloran, Turner, Verma, Gosset, Howard, Jevons and Dennis starting the game.

Another decent turnout and a great atmosphere was soon silenced when the usually reliable Kieran Charnock passed the ball straight to the on-coming Leamington striker who was left 1-on-1 with Ian Ormson and made no mistake in placing the ball beyond the young 'keeper after only two minutes - County were already looking at a long afternoon of potentially frustrating football.

The Hatters responded positively to the setback, going in search of an immediate equaliser. The first corner of the match went County's way after some good work from Howard forced the Leamington defence to put the ball behind for a corner; unfortunately the corner kick came to nothing.

Despite a few minutes of dominance for County, the next real chance fell to Leamington as an inviting cross was well met by the head of a Leamington player, who's effort flashed just beyond the post.

The Brakes then started to apply the pressure and were forcing sloppy County into giving the ball away cheaply.

Ian Ormson was called into action after around 20 minutes and did really well to get out to the attacker and make the save to prevent the Warwickshiremen from extending their lead.

Just a couple of minutes later it looked as though County had equalised when Turner had his shot somehow saved and Howard was left with the task of tucking the ball in but unfortunately the winger could only find the side netting and left the Hatters cursing their luck.

For the remaining minutes of the half, County and Leamington exchanged chances with the best of them being a free-kick for the visitors. Neither could find the back of the net though, and when the half time whistle mercifully went, both teams trudged off the pitch with the visitors holding a narrow but crucial lead.

Alan Lord looking made two changes at half time to try and turn the game around - new midfielder Tunji Moses came on for his debut, replacing Aman Verma and fan favourite Adriano Moke replaced Iain Howard.

County's intentions were clear from the off as just two minutes into the half, Dennis set up Moke for a strike that just went over the bar, before Gosset had a brilliant effort rifle just wide of the far post after the young Oldham prospect almost made the visitors pay dearly for failing to clear their lines.

Despite County's early dominance it was only the woodwork that kept out a superb strike from the visitors hit from 30 yards out, a wonderful strike that had the whole ground stunned.

This sparked a small spell of dominance that saw Leamington enjoy a couple of half chances and a corner.

But, after weathering the storm, County were back on the attack, the next chance falling to Kyle Jacobs who couldn't connect with the ball cleanly as his shot blazed over the bar.

Leamington were soon hearing boos ringing around from the stands at their attempts at timewasting, and, at this stage, there was only one team who wanted to push for the positive.

Finally County got the goal they deserved to draw the game level. New boy Tunji Moses picked up the ball in midfield and passed it to Jacobs who played a perfectly-timed and perfectly-weighted through-ball to Phil Jevons. The veteran striker's touch didn't let him down and he placed it neatly underneath the keeper to give County the reward their attacking play warranted.

As the Hatters went in search of a winner it appeared that Leamington had other ideas and firmly parked the bus to constantly frustrate both the County players and fans.

Despite constantly pushing forward the hosts couldn't get that elusive second goal to win the game and a magnificent 2,925 saw both teams leave Edgeley Park with a point each.

Whilst it was disappointing to have conceded so softly, it was positive to see both the crowd and the players react well to going a goal down, never giving up. No doubt spurred on by Alan Lord, the team showed determination to fight their way back into the game - a refreshing change from recent seasons, when conceding first often meant the team rolled over and called it a day.

County Line-Up: Ormson, Jacobs, Fagbola, Charnock, O'Halloran, Turner, Verma (Moses), Gosset, Howard (Moke), Jevons and Dennis

Unused subs: Jones, Tunnicliffe, Lofthouse

Attendance: 2,952 (152 Away Fans)

MATCH REPORT: COUNTY 3 - 1 Gainsborough Trinity

Thank the Lord: County get their first win of the season

By Chris Larkin

There are games that change seasons.

County have had many such days - Plymouth in 1996, Cheltenham in 2006, Fleetwood in 2011 and Saturday, Gainsborough in 2013.

Today was one of those days that give you renewed belief and confidence. Not before time.

Stockport County ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at home. Those words have been waiting too long to be written this season.

With the County line up featuring the newly acquired Danny Gosset, on loan from Oldham Athletic, the game started with the home team on the back-foot. The visitors, despite their lowly league position, came at County from the off, obviously not wanting to allow the home team any forward momentum.

They forced Ormson into a bit of quick thinking a couple of times early on and thr young keeper did well to keep the scores level before they won their first corner of the game which was confidently dealt with by an otherwise shaky looking defence.

It wasn't long before the Hatters found their confidence though and were soon peppering the Holy Blues box.

County had some very good chances as both Howard and Dennis came close to giving the Hatters a lead but they found it impossible to break down the Lincolnshire team's robust backline.

County were almost made to pay for their wastefulness as the visitors caught them on the break, a chance that required Ormson to come storming out of his area to clear the danger following a great ball to the on-coming Trinity striker.

That counter attack seemed to spark the visiting team into life as they forced Ormson into a couple of good saves in quick succession and it was only some last ditch defending by the home defence that kept them out.

But it wasn't long before County were in the ascendancy once more - Kristian Dennis forcing a smart save out of the visiting Goalkeeper to give County a corner and really pile on the pressure.

The Hatters had another half chance that was cleared and their chances of getting that elusive goal before half time looked to have gone. But Rhys Turner had other ideas and kept the chance alive with a ball to Kyle Jacobs who played in Dennis.

The striker, only just back from injury, unleashed a beautiful strike beyond the helpless reach of the Gainsborough 'keeper to send the County fans into raptures and send the Hatters in at half time with a deserved advantage.

Clearly hurting from conceding just before the break, the Trinity players came out with renewed vigour. They won a corner almost immediately but wasted the opportunity and then gave County the space to rediscover the attacking flair that served them so well in the first half.

Left back O'Halloran had a shot cleared off the line and, a minute later, Aman Verma was once again cursing his luck as he had an effort cleared off the line for a corner.

The disappointment didn't last too long though as, though the corner was cleared, some more good work from Rhys Turner gave him the room to cross the ball for Phil Jevons to score his first County goal - a low header into the bottom corner.

With the momentum firmly behind the Hatters, they looked to extend their lead as Howard and Dennis were unlucky not to add to County's advantage.

In typical County fashion though, despite all the home side's pressure, Gainsborough managed to pull a scrappy goal back against the run of play following a goalmouth scramble.

Some Keystone Cops style defending, with almost every player trying to get a foot on the ball in the County box, saw the ball fall at the feet of Gainsborough's Lacey who poked the ball home amid the chaos.

Following the goal, substitutions were swift, with Adriano Moke replacing the impressive Rhys Turner and, shortly afterwards, Myerscough Alumni Bobby Lofthouse and Scott Duxbury came on for Kristian Dennis and Iain Howard.

County continued to push forward and looked to put the game to bed as they made progress towards the visitors goal with Adriano Moke finding Phil Jevons who found himself in the visitors box with just a single defender between him and the goal.

Jevons skipped forwards and was tripped by the Gainsborough defender to give County a penalty and the chance to put some gloss on the scoreline.

Jevons doubled his tally for the day, placing his kick confidently in the bottom corner of the net beyond the reach of the keeper.

As soon as the visitors kicked off the referee blew for full time and County had finally, at the Sixth time of asking, got their first win as a Conference North side.

Thank the Lord.

Attendance: 2,802

County Line-up: Ormson, Jacobs, Fagbola, Charnock, O'Halloran, Turner (Moke), Verma, Gosset, Howard (Duxbury), Dennis (Lofthouse), Jevons

Unused Subs: Jones, Tunnicliffe

MATCH REPORT: Harrogate Town 3 - 1 COUNTY

Bogie - The Geordie quit at the final whistle

By Chris Larkin

Stockport County fans had an overwhelming feeling of deja vu on Saturday as the team reached a new low - losing another match and another manager in a mad 90 minutes.

Ian Bogie resigned just minutes after County slumped to a 3-1 loss in North Yorkshire.

County were on the backfoot right fromthe kick off, as Harrogate wasted a good opportunity by blasting over the bar, soon after winning the first corner of the game.

But almost immediately, County were on the break as young Rhys Turner bombed down the wing, winning County a corner which Fagbola did connect with but couldn't turn into the net.

County continued the momentum with Turner once again involved and desperately unlucky not give  the Hatters the lead with a header following some excellent work down the left from fan favourite, Adriano Moke.

County were almost made to pay for their profligacy within two minutes as Ian Ormson had to be alert to a cross-cum-shot from the Harrogate wing.

County were soon back on the front foot winning two free-kicks in a short space of time before the best chance of the match fell to Aman Verma - a lovely team move ending in a Verma run on goal. But in trying to place the ball around the goalie, he instead placed it wide of the net. And his luck didn't improve a couple of minutes later as he had a header acrobatically tipped over by the impressive Harrogate goalkeeper.

Verma squandered yet another opportunity10 minutes before the break - played in by Rhys Turner, Verma had another crack but again pulled the ball wide of the post.

It was clearly not going to be County's day despite playing well in the first half - a feeling which was compounded in five minutes of madness just before half-time, as Harrogate caught County flat footed and fired a long range shot beyond Ian Ormson. 1-0. Heads down.

And just a minute or so later it was 2-0 as Town once again broke through the Hatters backline to give them a 2-0 cushion. Then,  just two minutes later it was 3-0 as sloppy play from County gave the ball away cheaply for a simple tap-in and the end of County's day.


Domination to defeat in five disastrously amateur minutes. Story of the season so far.


The Second half started like the first half ended, with the Yorkshire hosts on the attack.

County's first sub of the game saw the hugely disappointing Ian Craney being replaced by youngster Bobby Lofthouse for his competitive first team debut - and the youngster's impact was instant as he laid the ball off to Jevons who just couldn't connect well enough and blazed it over the bar.


There was just no way back from this point on.

What turned out to be Ian Bogie's last action as Stockport County manager was to bring on Ian Howard and Brandon Windsor for Phil Jevons and Adriano Moke.

But County finally got on the scoresheet with a late consolation goal after Jacobs did well down the right and crossed the ball for sub Howard who turned and shot well beyond the reach of the keeper.

Despite playing well for periods,  lack of goals and defensive concentration cost County once again on the pitch.

Who knows what exactly caused Ian Bogie to walk out on the club just minutes after the final whistle but those looking for reasons  for the seemingly endless slide towards non league oblivion don't need to look much further than their own boardroom for the start and continuation of the disastrous domino effect.

Attendance: 918

County Line-up: Ian Ormson, Kyle Jacobs, Stephen O'Halloran, Keiran Charnock, Jordan Fagbola, Aman Verma, Ian Craney (Bobby Lofthouse) , Adriano Moke (Iain Howard), James Tunnicliffe, Phil Jevons (Brandon Windsor), Rhys Turner.

Unused Subs: Jamie Hand, Scott Duxbury.